Every Monday for a couple of months now I have been teaching the teen-aged daughters of my dear friend, Pamela, to sew (see post above). We spend about an hour learning a new technique or skill and then the rest of the day is spent on their chosen projects. We have been working our way through a unit on applique. We learned needle-turn, fuse w/satin stitch, fuse w/blanket stitch, padded, reverse, Madeira and more. Today was our final day on this unit and we learned shadow applique. This was a technique that was also new to me. We all really enjoyed this embellishment technique and I thought I'd share it with you in tutorial form.
Step One - Cut your organza base in a size and shape that will accommodate your intentions for it when completed. You will need another piece to place over the base. I intended to use my shadow applique for the cover of a needlebook so I cut two squares 8x8 inches. It ended up being a little larger than I wanted once framed with fabric strips and became a door hanger instead.
Step Two - Trace your design onto fusible webbing. Cut roughly around it and then fuse it to your chosen fabric pieces. Cut out on the lines.
Step Three - Peel off the paper backing from your pieces. Arrange the design as desired on your organza base.
Step Four - Fuse into place. Be sure your iron is hot enough to provide a good fuse but not so hot as to scorch your organza.
Step Five - Cover your fused piece with the second organza layer. Pin as needed to keep layers from shifting while you stitch (next step).
Step Six - You will now stitch around the outline of your appliqued design. This can be done by hand with hand-embroidery stitches such as the chain stitch or outline stitch. Or it can be done by machine. Select a thread color to blend with the organza or to strong contrast as desired. Carefully stitch through both layers right on the edge of each applique piece. You will need to stitch slowly and pivot as necessary.
By Machine
Hand-Embroidered
Step 7 - Press your piece. Turn over, pull threads to the back and knot off. Trim tails. Your piece is now ready to use in your chosen application.
FINISHED CRAFT
Now...you are to be congratulated if you read this far..and possibly rewarded as well. :) :) If you leave a comment, I will put your name in a drawing for the little door hanger that was my obliging model for this tutorial. I will do the drawing on next Monday, so you have one week to get your name in the hat!!!
19 comments:
Okay, I've never seen this before. So do you just have an applique that has organza over the top of it?
By the way, I wish I could have been there for all of the applique lessons...I've never done much applique and don't recognize some of the names.
Pretty much, Paula. Actually when I was researching this technique there were a lot of variations. Some used a fashion fabric for the background with organza over the top. One source said that you outlined first, then cut a little slice in the back and stuffed with yarn fibers. But this was what was most commonly considered shadow applique.
I wish you could be here for the next unit. We're doing fabric modifications. Dying, tucking, embossing, acid-etching, broomsticking, batik wax-resist, bleaching, painting... All kinds of cool stuff. I'm going to try to do a lot of tutorials as we work our way through.
Errr..ummm..that would be DYEING. Hopefully no one will be 'dying' during our sessions.
Cute cute cute!!!! Emiy's cow is adorable, Sarah's flower is pretty as well. My girls know SOOO much more than I do. I wonder if I'll ever catch up?
Pamela
Cool, then I can just follow your tutorials. I won't be as much fun as being there, but it will be the next best thing.
Darling project! You're such a good person to pass on some of your knowledge. I think you must be having fun right along with them. I haven't done much applique, but my grandmother was very skilled at it.
There's a technique much like the second technique in your comment except without the hole. Outline your area, then thread a blunt tapestry needle with lengths of yarn, pushing the fibers aside, insert the needle between them and pull the yarn into the area. Cut at the eye when you have it place as you wish. Continue until it's stuffed, then arrange the yarns (straighter looks better) and push the fibers back into place where you've put your needle through. No hole, and it's stuffed anyway. You can use different colors in the same area for a special effect, too.
Thanks, Liana! That makes much more sense. You wouldn't have the back of the piece compromised with all the slashes. Thanks for your input. It's funny how one technique can have such a wide range of definitions. I also found one website where silk flowers were arranged on a background and then the organza placed over them. Threads also had an article once where feathers were placed on a background, then organza placed over the top and then free-motion embroidery done to quilt it all in place.
This is so cute and original. Looking forward to more tutorials to come.
Yip! It's a chicken! I love it!
I've never heard of this type of applique, but I love the results. I'll be trying this.
Love your chick and the choice of colors! Haven't done any shadow work for years--you've inspired me.
Thanks
Karen
What a great idea! I'll be giving this a try for sure, thanks for the tutorial!
What an adorable project. I enjoy applique and am learning new ways all of the time. I will have to try this one. Thanks for the tutorial. Will be watching for others.
This is such a great little project and have been wanting to give this a try for YEARS!! So, thank you for the wonderful tut on the shadow applique.
That is wonderful! I've never seen a demonstration of this technique. There just are so many things to learn. I hope I get around to lots more. I'll be watching your blog now that I've found it for more new things! Thanks.
~Elaine~
Great tutorial, and cute henn! I like the borders you did in the same fabric - very cool!
seems applique is so much easier with the iron on paper backed product. I've never done a lot of applique but with this easy method, may do more.
How cute is THAT!!! Love it! Did you pin down the top layer before stitching? I'm worried I'll damage it if I do.
I also love how you used that orange vignette around the photograph of your final project - you're a multi-talented gal!
Thanks for the free tutorial - This was the best of all I have seen on the 'net - and even when I have talked with "experts" -
I'll be teaching this to my Guild in a few weeks, so was glad to see these instructions. We will be having different methods of appliqué shown by members of the Guild. Thanks! Vicki
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